03/12/2026
The heartbreaking thing about sports; nearly EVERY realllly good season ends in heartbreak. Aside from the blessed few who "win it all" - despite a ton of success and triumph, the journey ends for most with hurt and tears.
It was no different for our amazing 8th grade squad, and while I generally try to write in third-person on this page, I (Chris) have coached many of these kids for 5 years and 14 seasons (every season aside from 7th grade school ball), so I'll ask for some latitude to be just a tad more personal.
Our girls fought valiantly Monday, but fell to an excellent foe in our conference tournament. They finished the season with a massive 11 wins, many against bigger schools they've never even come CLOSE to beating before. They had 11 wins despite missing out on a few very winnable games due to weather and scheduling. They were truly excellent and by the second half of the season, up to COMPETE with just about any team in the state.
I told a tear-streaked locker room the truth after the game; they aren't just "better than before" or "good compared to other teams" or "improving" or any other euphemism we use when we are aiming to find the positives - they were simply GOOD. PERIOD. Just REALLY REALLLLLY GOOD.
And they didn't get there on ACCIDENT. They worked their tails off. Anyone who joined us for a practice or workout can attest - they practice HARD. They LOCK IN. They are fierce and brave and dedicated. And man oh man, do they CONNECT and LOVE each other.
Back in December, we agreed on a team motto together - and the first item on the list was "We Lift Each Other Up" Not just literally, but in words, actions and spirit. We committed to being a family, through good times and tough.
It makes the final postgame locker room so so tough. Tough enough I am two days late on this post. As my wife (and awesome assistant coach) can laughingly attest, I just needed a day... not because we "lost a game" and not because we didn't achieve more. Simply because, I just wasn't quite ready to say "farewell" to this amazing group of young women who have been our FAMILY for so so many seasons and so many years.
Our whole team felt the same way. We spent 40 minutes before the tears stopped - we shared memories and praise, we shared what we all meant to each other, both collectively and individually, we lived our team motto, and LIFTED EACH OTHER UP till we could smile and find gratitude and joy in the journey despite the pain of its finality. No one wanted to leave, but, together, they all know they are walking out to an even greater future.
Forget basketball. I assure you, you'll never find a finer collection of young women anywhere, and their impact on the court will be a faint glimmer compared to their shine OFF it. They are destined for greatness in so many unique and special ways.
I will always be grateful to have been a small small part of it along the way....
We left on an optimistic note - a challenge to keep their CULTURE intact as they move on to high school and life. To IMPACT the world around them, rather than being impacted BY it - to LIFT UP OTHERS everywhere they go, and to simply BE the amazing young women they are; unabashedly and without fear, on every amazing journey life presents.
I've written it a thousand times, and it does bring a little tear to type once more - you are going to LOVE watching these girls COMPETE on the court. But you'll love even MORE having them be an integral part of our amazing community.
All in, all out, girls - and no matter my official title in the years to come, you'll have a "coach" in your corner, and a massive FAN in your lives everywhere you go...
